Kanye West shocked and appalled the general public when he took the microphone away from Taylor Swift and praised Beyoncé’s talent at the 2009 MTV Music Video Awards. We felt for Swift as a pretentious, conceited and fame-obsessed rapper belittled her success on national television. Years later, West shook the fashion world with the release of Yeezy Boost’s signature sneaker that has since then sold out in almost every retail outlet, in-store and online. West’s fame only rose when he married Kim Kardashian West and became a regular on her infamous Instagram account.
Most people hold strong opinions on the rapper, whether for or against. Mothers grimace when they hear his semi-sexist and often offensive lyrics on the radio while the younger generation praises him for being one of the best rappers of all time. In 2017, his name, brand and lifestyle have become a common dinner table conversation.
Even academia has started to acknowledge West’s notoriety. This spring, Washington University in St. Louis is offering a full course on Kanye West, titled “Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics.” According to The St. Louis Dispatch, 75 students have already signed up for the course, taught by professor of African American studies, Jeffrey McCune.
In an article from Complex Magazine, McCune said the class is a “good way to get students to connect issues of politics, race, gender, sexuality and culture.” The course includes material such as the Taylor Swift saga, West’s critics and the importance of hip-hop.
It is safe to say that West is a successful musician, celebrity and even business man, but is it fair to call him a genius? Is he the man we should idolize and teach in a college setting?
It is difficult to consider Kanye West a role model. With songs describing misogynistic sexual scenes, victimizing Taylor Swift and directing insults at some of his own family members, West doesn’t always portray himself in the best light. The concept of “black genius” is compelling especially in a country where our history has focused on the innovation of white men, but is Kanye West truly the best we can come up with? He is not the only minority figure in popular culture to elicit controversy, and certainly not the most notable. Out of the black pioneers in the rap field, it seems misplaced to immortalize a man in a college course who has time and time again made people question his morals.
With that said, West’s accomplishments are evident. In 2009, no one expected him to become a fashion designer or to release an album that would debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. In a way, he is a vehicle for many social and economic issues that we face right now. Abstract concepts are always easier to understand when we relate them to issues or people we can effortlessly understand. West has certainly gained a fair amount of critics, but it is time to understand that though he may not be comparable to Maya Angelou or Oprah Winfrey, he means something. Our culture cares about gossip, celebrity crises, memes and social media; it would be naive to say that West doesn’t have a place in it.
This course has a purpose. It should not be taught as if West is an all-encompassing role model. Rather, it should be a place where discussion is welcomed and encouraged. If this course can intersect deeper topics of race, gender and sexuality, then West is an appropriate figure to utilize to attract students. This particular route reaches college students in a way that a course simply about race and gender simply can’t. By adding West’s name into a course description, this professor has essentially established a way for students who wouldn’t normally take this class to invest in their studies.
Will this generation’s children know West’s name? Will they put on his albums during a road trip or discuss the ethicality of his actions? Probably not, because popular culture isn’t recorded in the same way that historical events are. People will recognize Elvis Presley’s or Michael Jackson’s contributions to music for decades, but can the same be said for West? As trivial as the drama within the Kardashian family is, our society loves it. We eat it up.
Popular culture and history are merging more in the era of social media. West’s Twitter wars or Snapchat exposés would have never made headlines 20 years ago, yet nowadays it is front page news. West might not be the cookie cutter, textbook definition of historical, but he is not someone to be overlooked.
Whether students take this course because they think it will be an easy A, they are devoted Kanye West fans or they truly want to debate his impact on real issues, they will have a unique academic experience.
He sucks. Can’t stand the thought of him. Puking right now.